VERY MUCH >>> in the comparative and superlative form

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Anonymous

#333610 Tue, 27 Feb 07 05:45 AM

Here is a question I have received from a student while covering "comparative" and "superlative".

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VERY MUCH >>> why not VERY MORE or VERY MOST??

I have gone over recent postings of the topic, and I do not need "quotations" or "definitions" of the word VERY and MUCH. It left me more confused, which is why I decided to post my question.

I know VERY MORE and VERY MOST is incorrect. But my student wants to know "why" it's incorrect or not used.

*** For Japanese students >> translating VERY, MORE, MUCH, etc. will land you with the same Japanese translation in the English/Japanese dictionary.

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Another question:

Is there a difference when saying the following?

Very much Praised >> Very praised >>> Much praised

Will this all be the same meaning?? Which is the higher degree, if there is one?

Thank you in advance!

Anonymous

Translation

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Clive

#334048 Wed, 28 Feb 07 07:00 AM

Hi,

I see that you haven't had an answer yet. One reason may be that you don't seem to want definitions or examples, so people may be unsure just what kind of answer you are looking for.

As you probably known, we do occasionally say things like 'He was the very best student in the class' or 'These prize-winners were the very most succesful scientists'. But it often sounds a bit dubious. I'm inclined to think the best answer to give your students is that these kinds of things we say are idiomatic, ie we say them that way because we say them that way. And conversely, we don't say them that way because we don't say them that way. Smile [:)]

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Another question:

Is there a difference when saying the following?

Very much Praised >> Very praised >>> Much praised

Will this all be the same meaning?? Which is the higher degree, if there is one?

I don't see much difference in practice. All three just give the idea of 'praised a lot'. I'd tell your students that we'd more commonly tend to say this another way, eg he was praised a lot, he was highly praised.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,250)

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Anonymous

#334366 Thu, 01 Mar 07 01:35 AM

Thank you very much Clive! I will tell my students that some things are just the way they are and can't be explained.

I have done some research on my own and have discovered the following.

(very) is an "Attributive Adj." modifying other Adj. that come before them (like "so", etc.)

Therefore we get

A. Adj + Adj. (positive form)
A. Adj + Adj. (superlative form)

and grammatically wrong only in the "Comparative" form.

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I never knew how confusing English was and the many mysteries they had until I began teaching it as a 2nd language. Take it or leave it, and don't ask why. Can be a real headache at times.

Anonymous

Using English

Anonymous

#336834 Thu, 08 Mar 07 01:59 AM

We do not say 'very more' and 'very most' because they are illogical.

Anonymous

Crescent_star2000

#341113 Tue, 20 Mar 07 02:57 AM

"very more" is illogical, but I have to disagree with you regarding
"very most". Yes, it may sound funny when pronounced, but IT is
still grammatically correct.

".... the very most obvious cases. "

"... the language which has evolved very most over the past century."

You will be surprised that "very" can be used with most superlative forms and still be "grammatically" correct.
(Of course, there are a few exceptions to which superlative adj. can work with "very")

Crescent_star2000

Joined on Tue, Jan 23 2007

Japan

New Member (16)